attorney in seattle, washington, who would prosecute violations there. regardless of the state law, growing, selling or processing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. the department's responsibility to enforce the controlled substances act remains unchanged. but several department of justice officials who spoke to cnn said that likely wouldn't happen. alberto gonzales laid out the options, option one, lock the users up. >> arrest and prosecute those in possession of marijuana, and then wait for the defendant to say wait a minute, you know, i have got a state law that says here this is not lawful. and at that point, the department can raise the issue, and say well, the federal government laws preempt state laws in this issue. >> option two, fight it out in the courts. >> sue the state of washington and the state of colorado, take them to court and just say outright in this field, the federal government has preempted and that the law has to fall. >> option three, cut off federal money to law enforcement. >> simply start withholding f